Network Use Policy

Network Policy

The St. Ambrose University Computer Network (SAUNET) is a university-wide computer network that provides access to electronic mail, to library and other information services, to local computing resources and, through its connection to the Internet, to computing and information resources throughout the world. Its purpose is to enrich the education of students, to expand the research opportunities of faculty, and to enhance communication across all constituencies of the university. Students, staff and faculty are encouraged to use the network for educational research projects, for personal and professional e-mail with colleagues and friends, to help facilitate administrative tasks and improve workgroup communication, and to access educational information both within the university and throughout the Internet.

SAUNET is designed to benefit all members of the St. Ambrose community. But along with its privileges come responsibilities. Responsible use of SAUNET means not only following St. Ambrose policies designed to maintain smooth operation of our local network but also following the policies established by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Advanced Network Services (ANS) regarding use of the Internet. Good network citizenship also involves learning the etiquette and conventions of use applicable to local and Internet communications.All users of SAUNET agree to abide by the Acceptable Use Policies of St. Ambrose University, the National Science Foundation, and Advanced Network Services (see below). Use of SAUNET constitutes acceptance of the terms and conditions specified by these policies. In addition, users of SAUNET must observe all "posted rules" and published restrictions regarding use of the network, use of library information services, use of laboratories, and use of other attached computing resources.

SAUNET Acceptable Use Policy

The following policy describes acceptable use of SAUNET, whether accessed through computers and devices owned by St. Ambrose University, or remotely through outside equipment. For the purposes of this policy, SAUNET is defined to include all University owned computer equipment, the operating systems and application software that resides on this equipment, and the networking hardware and software which connects this equipment. By extension this policy applies to all Internet traffic that flows through SAUNET. Violations of this policy should be reported to the Director of Academic & Administrative Computing or members of the department. Failure to comply with any item of this policy constitutes a violation.Violations of network policy are very serious matters exposing violators to the formal disciplinary procedures of the university administered by the appropriate supervising body. In the case of students, this would be the Dean of Students. For faculty and staff, the Dean of Faculty and/or their supervisor would be involved. In order to protect the integrity of the network, the director is authorized to immediately close accounts and deny access to individuals pending the completion of such formal disciplinary procedures.

In general it is appropriate to use SAUNET for private and professional correspondence, for classroom and instructional activities, for support and administrative functions of the university, and for research related activities.

SAUNET services may not be used for illegal purposes.

It is unacceptable to access a file over SAUNET without permission of the owner. This includes any materials on a file server, local hard drive or local hard drive that is being shared. Lack of protection on a file does not constitute right of access.

Users of SAUNET are required to abide by State and Federal statues. Violators are liable for civil or criminal prosecution.

It is unacceptable to download and/or send obscene, threatening or harassing materials over the network. This includes the sending of chain letters with questionable content or downloading, viewing, sharing or printing questionable materials. Users of SAUNET are bound by the same standards of respect for the rights of others that pertain to the St. Ambrose community in general. The conduct of users should be reflective of the mission of this institution and its focus on respect for humanity.

Users are liable for the use, or misuse, of their own account. Therefore, you should never use another person's account or identification, or give your password or identification to another person for the purpose of gaining access to the network.

It is unacceptable to try to bypass standard procedures, including unauthorized use of an account, attempting to find out another person's password, or using an account for purposes for which it was not intended.

It is unacceptable to distribute a computer virus or engage in any procedure which interferes with the normal operation and delivery of services over the network.

Commercial use of SAUNET is unacceptable--although a reasonable standard will be used to judge what constitutes such commercial use. For example, offering to sell an item to a friend or friends would be acceptable insofar as it falls under the category of private correspondence. But advertising the same item through a mass mailing would not be acceptable. Similarly, sending out solicited resumes or applications would be acceptable, while mailing unsolicited resumes and applications would not be acceptable. The normal pursuit of university support functions is acceptable but the use of SAUNET for individual profit, e.g. by operating a word processing service or doing the work of a local business, is not acceptable. If in doubt about an individual practice, it is the user's responsibility to find out whether or not it is permissible under this provision by contacting an authorized network administrator.

Users of SAUNET should conserve network resources. Activities which result in excessive use of network bandwidth, server storage, or system time will be restricted or curtailed. Do not print out enormous files downloaded from the Internet unless you have very good reasons to do so--leave them in soft copy instead.

Only authorized faculty and administrative personnel should use mass e-mail over the network (e-mail to all faculty or to all students). In general there will be better ways to post public messages of general interest (e.g., mailing lists, newsgroups, and the web). Users of SAUNET should not access any networked printer, server, or other device for which they have not been given explicit permission. If in doubt, ask.

Anyone who accesses the Internet through SAUNET should adhere to NFS and ANS policies given below. In addition Internet users should familiarize themselves with Internet etiquette, including proper use of mailing lists, FTP logons, and e-mail etiquette. Remember that when you are on the Internet you are representing St. Ambrose University. Everyone will know this from the fact that your return address says "@sau.edu." So behave in such a way as to reflect well on your university.

Only legal, licensed software applications may reside on or be transferred over SAUNET. Reproduction of such software or its related documentation is forbidden unless explicitly authorized by the software developer. All St. Ambrose University faculty, students and employees shall use computer software only in accordance with license agreements, whether it is licensed to the University or to them. Hacking--unauthorized modification of operating systems, application software, or network software on any system attached to SAUNET--is strictly forbidden.

Outside phone lines into SAUNET are expensive and severely limited. So be considerate of other users when dialing in to the network over the phone lines. Do not engage in extended telnet or web browsing sessions and try to conduct your remote business as efficiently as possible.

It is unacceptable to misuse information obtained over SAUNET while performing work as a St. Ambrose University employee. Information stored on administrative computers and microcomputers is confidential. Use or distribution of such information other than as assigned is prohibited by University policy and State and Federal laws.

It is unacceptable to use or distribute any parts of St. Ambrose University's administrative records which are accessed unintentionally.

Users are not permitted to access SAUNET after their eligibility for such access ends. Student eligibility normally ends when the student is no longer enrolled. Faculty and staff eligibility normally ends at the termination of employment. Reasonable grace periods of one month will be provided.

The director has the right to remove mail and other files from a user's space on the main servers if they are a threat to the integrity of the network. Extremely large amounts of mail can cause problems for the mail server and can render the service unavailable for all members of the campus community.

St. Ambrose University is committed to providing network services within a supportive learning environment which encourages innovation and the development of new skills. None-the-less, violations of network policy are very serious matters exposing violators to the formal disciplinary procedures of the university administered by the appropriate supervising body. In the case of students, this would be the Dean of Students. For faculty and staff, the Dean of Faculty and/or their supervisor would be involved. In order to protect the integrity of the network, the director is authorized to immediately close accounts and deny access to individuals pending the completion of such formal disciplinary procedures.

GENERAL PRINCIPLE1. NSFnet Backbone services are provided to support open research and education in and among US research and instructional institutions, plus research arms of for-profit firms when engaged in open scholarly communications and research. Use for other purposes is not acceptable.

SPECIFICALLY ACCEPTABLE USES

Communications with foreign researchers and educators in connection with research and instruction, as long as any network that the foreign user employs for such communication provides reciprocal access to US researchers and educators.

Communication and exchange for professional development, to maintain currency, or to debate issues in a field or subfield of knowledge.

Use for disciplinary-society, university-association, government-advisory, or standards activities related to the user's research and instructional activities.

Use in applying for or administering grants or contracts for research or instruction, but not for fundraising or public relations activities.

Any other administrative communications or activities in direct support of research and instruction.

Announcements of new products or services for use in research or instruction, but not advertising of any kind.

Any traffic originating from a network of another member agency of the Federal Networking Council if the traffic meets the acceptable use policy of that agency.

Use for for-profit activities, unless covered by the General Principle or as specifically acceptable use.

Extensive use for private or personal business.

This statement applies to use of the NSFnet Backbone only. NSF expects that connecting networks will formulate their own use policies. The NSF Division of Networking and Communications Research and Infrastructure will resolve any questions about this Policy or its interpretation.

Advanced Network Services Acceptable Use Policy (ANS AUP)

All use of ANS network services shall be intended to facilitate the exchange of information in furtherance of education and research, and otherwise be consistent with the broad objectives of ANS.

Users of ANS network services shall promote efficient use of the networks to minimize, and avoid if possible, congestion of the networks and interference with the work of other users of the networks.

Users of ANS network services shall not disrupt any of the ANS networks as a whole or any equipment or system forming part of its systems, or any services provided over, or in connection with, any of the ANS networks.

ANS networks shall not be used to transmit any communication where the meaning of the message, or its transmission or distribution, would violate any applicable law or regulation or would likely be highly offensive to the recipient or recipients thereof.

ANS networks shall not be used for commercial purposes. However, if a use is consistent with the purposes and objectives of ANS, the commercial activities in support of that use will be considered an acceptable use of the network.

Advertising of commercial offerings is forbidden. Discussion of a product's relative advantages and disadvantages by users of the product is encouraged. Vendors may respond to questions about their products as long as the responses are not in the nature of advertising.

Interpretation, application, and possible modification of the Acceptable Use Policy shall be within the sole discretion of ANS. Questions about any issue arising under this Policy should be directed to ANS by User Organizations when an issue first arises.